C7 Fighting

The elder clad in black murmured, "Coldtalons..."

"Hehe, and what if I am determined to take this person with me? How would Coldtalons respond?" The elder in black spoke with an even tone, devoid of any ripples of emotion. His words were as casual as if he were making a simple, everyday request—no impropriety, no fear, no particular attitude. He faced Coldtalons as if they were just an ordinary sect or even a child, and his inquiry was as innocuous as asking a child for directions.

The crowd inhaled sharply. Coldtalons, known for their uncompromising stance against both the martial world's major sects and figures like Emperor Shen Xingsu of Yizera, would not yield an inch. They wouldn't even extend the courtesy of saving face, resorting to violence and vitriol, and if pushed, they would annihilate entire families. Over the past few centuries, the number of royals and elite sects that had perished at the hands of Coldtalons was beyond count. Yet here stood this black-clad elder, making his demands with a lightness that was as natural as drinking water or eating a meal, without a hint of disturbance.

Lei Hongyuan, however, could not bring himself to dispatch the black-clad elder as he might have with the nobles and sects of old, nor could he muster the courage to rebuke this seemingly arrogant man. Yet the pride that had been ingrained in him over three hundred years of Coldtalons' dominance balked at the thought of being tarnished by this elder before an audience.

Should he acquiesce to this demand today, Coldtalons would become the subject of rumors across the martial arts world, labeled as having met their match. Such an act could shatter the prestige Coldtalons had built over centuries, turning all those they had vanquished, the prestige they had established, and the common folk they had oppressed into sworn enemies, eager to band together and rip Coldtalons apart.

Lei Hongyuan believed in his heart that Coldtalons could never be bested by these insignificant pests, but the thought of squandering Coldtalons' resources on such lowly rabble was intolerable. Therefore, Lei Hongyuan was resolute in his refusal to meet the black-clad elder's demands today. It was a preemptive measure for the sake of Coldtalons, the foremost thought in Lei Hongyuan's mind.

Lei Hongyuan was acutely aware that he stood no chance against the black-clothed elder, even with Chang Qianyu by his side—especially since Chang Qianyu was injured. In fact, even ten Lei Hongyuans and ten uninjured Chang Qianyus wouldn't be able to so much as scratch the elder's sleeve.

Thus, Lei Hongyuan found himself in a bind: he couldn't afford to tarnish the prestige of the Coldtalons Sect or directly confront the black-robed elder. This was the most vexing issue at hand.

Observing Yan Nanfeng, who was fixated on Shen Mengxian, Lei Hongyuan thought to himself, "Since this debacle is a result of your own desires, you should be the one to resolve it."

Addressing the black-robed elder, Lei Hongyuan spoke, "Senior, I would not dare to ignore your words. My own seniority is insufficient, but our Coldtalons Sect holds seniority in high regard. As the most senior figure present, we must heed your commands. However, as the largest faction in the martial world, and as an elder of the Coldtalons Sect, I stand for our sect's honor and cannot blindly follow your directives. How about this: let's sit back and watch how these two juniors handle the situation. If they can resolve it, the Coldtalons Sect will have no quarrel with you, Senior. If they cannot, then we shall step in to ensure fairness. Does that sound agreeable?"

Lei Hongyuan's strategy was clever, leaving the resolution of the dispute to Yan Nanfeng and Chu Tian, thereby distancing both the Coldtalons Sect and the black-robed elder from the conflict. In doing so, the sect's reputation would remain intact, and the elder would have no cause to intervene in the young men's affairs. Moreover, Yan Nanfeng had recently been recognized as a prodigy with seven vein bones, while Chu Tian had shown no such talent, failing to elicit any response from the Martial Monument—earning him the unfortunate title of the greatest failure of the age. Lei Hongyuan was confident that Yan Nanfeng would surely defeat Chu Tian, and if not, it would be of little consequence. When the time came, he could assist discreetly, and even if the elder perceived the ruse, it wouldn't matter as long as it wasn't obvious to the onlookers. With no one else able to criticize, the black-robed elder's potential objections would hold no weight.

The elder in black nodded and inquired, "Oh, how shall we resolve this?"

Lei Hongyuan gestured toward Chu Tian and proposed, "Have Chu Tian duel with Yan Nanfeng. It will settle their conflict and, consequently, determine the fate of this woman. Moreover, since the elder expressed a desire to take this 'worthless one' with him, I'd like to see Yan Nanfeng test his mettle. Should he perish, it will prove he lacks the resolve to accompany the elder. Someone of such insignificance hardly merits the elder's time and the risks involved."

Lei Hongyuan's statement was loaded with implication, effectively warning the elder in black not to underestimate the vengeful nature of Coldtalons. Provoking them could lead to relentless pursuit, even to the ends of the earth.

The elder in black acknowledged the situation with a nod. He realized that even if he wished to take Chu Tian with him, it wasn't feasible to do so under the watchful eyes of the crowd. For one, while he could whisk Chu Tian away, he couldn't do the same for Shen Mengxian, Chu Wuhan, Shen Xingsu, and the others. If he were to take Chu Tian by force, these individuals would surely face Coldtalons' wrath. Instead of rescuing Chu Tian, he would be indirectly responsible for the demise of those closest to him, earning Chu Tian's lifelong enmity. Furthermore, even if he risked the lives of Shen Mengxian, Chu Wuhan, and Shen Xingsu to extract Chu Tian, Coldtalons would not simply stand down. They would relentlessly hunt Chu Tian down. While the elder possessed formidable skills to defend himself and Chu Tian, he couldn't safeguard him indefinitely.

Thus, intervening on Chu Tian's behalf at this juncture would merely extend his life by a few years.

The elder in black addressed Lei Hongyuan, "Very well, let the two young men have their duel."

Yan Nanfeng approached Chu Tian with an air of superiority. Chu Tian, still recovering from his recent injuries and despite receiving treatment from Chu Wuhan, had not fully healed. His lips were bloodless, and he struggled to breathe, as if no amount of air could fill his lungs.

Yan Nanfeng's face, which had just been marked by the haughty arrogance of a privileged young master, twisted into a look of sheer malice. He sneered at Chu Tian, "Chu Tian, you've fallen for the woman I desire. That shows you have the eye of a genius, proving you're not entirely worthless. However, daring to covet my woman is a fatal mistake. Chu Tian, this time next year will mark your death anniversary!"